News

Celebrating National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week runs from 17-23 May in celebration of Australia’s nearly six million volunteers. Open Arms recognises the significant contribution made to volunteering by current and ex-serving ADF members and their families.

Reconnecting after deployment or absence

Life in the military can include time apart from family and friends due to deployment, training or commitments such as Reserve duties. Serving members might experience living in different locations and having new experiences, some of which can be exciting but may also be difficult, or even traumatic.

Observing Anzac Day 2021

Anzac Day can be a time of heightened emotions for the defence and veteran communities, and this past year has presented more challenges than most. The floods, bushfires, COVID-19 pandemic and release of the IGADF Afghanistan report have all impacted our lives in some way.

Getting a good night’s sleep

Friday 19 March was World Sleep Day, an annual event highlighting the importance of sleep to our overall health and wellbeing.

Resilience and recovery from natural disaster

Natural disasters such as floods and bushfires can sometimes undermine our capacity to cope but they are also an opportunity for us to show our resilience. In the short term, it is quite normal to experience feelings of helplessness and at times find the situation overwhelming.

#Check5 and other difficult conversations

When someone you care about is going through a rough patch, it can be hard to know what to do or say. We’ve been encouraging people to check in with five mates, but not everyone finds it easy to talk. Luckily, there are resources and strategies available to help you talk to and care for a loved one.

What 'square away' means to Kris

‘Square Away’ is a familiar term to current serving members of the Australian Defence Force, and for many it remains meaningful when they return to civilian life. Army veteran Kris explains what it means to him.

What 'square away' means to Kate

‘Square Away’ is a familiar term to current serving members of the Australian Defence Force, and for many it remains meaningful when they return to civilian life. As the daughter of a Vietnam War veteran and spouse of an army veteran, Kate explains what it means to her.